GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 201 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #181 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

Which of the following molecule(s) undergoes reduction during the electron transport chain?

Possible Answers:

None of these are reduced

NADH

Oxygen

Both of these are reduced

Correct answer:

Oxygen

Explanation:

Reduction is the process of gaining electrons. In electron transport chain (ETC), electron carriers such as NADH and  donate electrons to the electron carriers in the ETC. These electrons are transported to subsequent molecules. The final acceptor of electrons in ETC is oxygen, which accepts electrons and gets converted into water. Since electrons are being lost from them, NADH and  are oxidized in the ETC. On the other hand, oxygen accepts electrons and is reduced in the electron transport chain.

Example Question #32 : Cellular Respiration And Photosynthesis

Oligomycin is an inhibitor of ATP synthase. Which of the following will you observe in the cells of a patient taking oligomycin?

I. There will be a higher concentration of protons in the intermembrane space

II. Proton pump will no longer be functional

III. ATP production will be decreased

Possible Answers:

I and II

III only

I, II, and III

I and III

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

The question states that oligomycin inhibits ATP synthase. Recall that ATP synthase (found on the inner mitochondrial membrane) generates ATP by transporting protons from the intermembrane space (space between inner and outer mitochondrial membrane) into the mitochondria. Inhibiting this will prevent the transport of protons and will, subsequently, lead to a buildup of protons in the intermembrane space.

Proton pumps are also found on the inner mitochondrial membrane. They function to pump out protons from the inside of mitochondria to the intermembrane space, thereby providing the proton gradient for ATP synthase to generate ATP. Halting ATP synthase will cause proton pump to stop pumping protons into the intermembrane space (due to the increase in protons in intermembrane space).

ATP synthase is the major generator of ATP; therefore, halting ATP synthase via oligomycin will decrease the amount of ATP generated.

Example Question #182 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

During ATP synthesis in mitochondria, protons move directly through __________.

Possible Answers:

F0 subunit of ATP synthase

Outer mitochondrial membrane

F1 subunit of ATP synthase

Cytoplasmic cellular membrane

Ubiquinone

Correct answer:

F0 subunit of ATP synthase

Explanation:

The F0 subunit of ATP synthase is where protons flow through to create ATP. This mechanism involves a rotation of the subunit, producing ATP with each turn. ATP synthase is part of oxidative phosphorylation, the greatest ATP producing segment of cellular respiration.

Example Question #183 : Gre Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, And Molecular Biology

You are studying three different reduction-oxidation couples in the electron transport chain. Their energies are as follows:

"A" +.02 V

"B" - .31 V

"C" - .41 V

What correctly describes the flow of electrons through these redox couples?

Possible Answers:

A, B, C

B, C, A

C, B, A

A, C, B

C, A, B

Correct answer:

C, B, A

Explanation:

Electrons flow throughout the electron transport chain via redox reactions. They flow from the most negative voltage to the most positive voltage within the chain. Thus the correct flow would be from C (most negative) to B (Less negative) to A (most positive).

Example Question #1 : Help With Light Reactions

Which molecule transfers electrons from photosystem II to photosystem I?

Possible Answers:

Ferredoxin

Cytochrome c

Plastocyanin

NADP+

Correct answer:

Plastocyanin

Explanation:

Photosystems I and II are each capable of conducting electrons, with photosystem II handing off electrons to photosystem I. This is accomplished by the electron carrier molecule plastocyanin. 

Example Question #2 : Help With Light Reactions

Which product is made in photosystem I?

Possible Answers:

NADH

Glucose

ATP

NADPH

Correct answer:

NADPH

Explanation:

Photosystems I and II are responsible for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. These two photosystems work in tandem to create ATP and NADPH products. ATP is created in photosystem II, while NADPH is created in photosystem I.

Example Question #3 : Help With Light Reactions

What fuels ATP synthase to make ATP from ADP + Pi in the light reaction of photosynthesis?

Possible Answers:

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen accumulates in the thylakoid space. Oxygen then moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

Light excites photosystem I to generate electrons that pass through the thylakoid membrane to excite ATP synthase to generate ATP

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen ions accumulate in the thylakoid space. Hydrogen moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

The mechanism by which ATP synthase is fueled is not entirely known

NADPH is formed from NADP+ reductase in the thylakoid membrane. NADPH can then donate hydrogen to ATP synthase to fuel the synthesis of ATP

Correct answer:

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen ions accumulate in the thylakoid space. Hydrogen moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

Explanation:

Excitation of photosystem II splits water in the thylakoid space into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen then passes through ATP synthase to move down its concentration gradient and into the stroma. Excitation of photosystem I passes electrons to NADP+ reductase to convert NADP+ to NADPH. Regeneration of NADPH is necessary for the Calvin cycle. 

Example Question #45 : Cellular Metabolism

During the photosynthetic light reactions, which of the following molecules acts as the electron acceptor?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Electrons excited in photosystem I are accepted by , thus converting  to .  is the reduced form of  and while  acts as an electron acceptor in certain reactions, the light reactions utilize  which has an extra phosphate.  and  are not used to accept electrons in this context. 

Example Question #1 : Help With The Calvin Cycle

What molecule is remade in the Calvin cycle so that carbon dioxide can attach when entering?

Possible Answers:

Glucose-6-phosphate

1,3-bisphosphoglycerate

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

Correct answer:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

Explanation:

In order to keep the Calvin cycle going, the 5-carbon molecule that carbon dioxide attaches to in the first step must be remade at the end of the cycle. This molecule is called ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, or RuBP.

Example Question #2 : Help With The Calvin Cycle

Which of the following is an advantage of C4 photosynthesis compared to C3 photosynthesis?

Possible Answers:

C3 plants fix carbon dioxide through rubisco; however, oxygen competes for rubisco binding, reducing the ability for C3 plants to fix carbon. C4 plants use phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase instead of rubisco, which binds carbon dioxide specifically.

C3 plants are more suitable than C4 plants for growth in arid climates because they keep their stroma closed longer than C4 plants.

The calvin cycle in C4 plants does not require NADPH; therefore, the light reactions are more efficient because they do not have to regenerate NADPH from NADP+

C3 plants physically separate carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle, whereas C4 plants execute both processes in the chloroplast stroma.

C3 plants have fewer photosystems than C4 plants; as a result, C4 plants are able to utlize a broader spectra of light in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Correct answer:

C3 plants fix carbon dioxide through rubisco; however, oxygen competes for rubisco binding, reducing the ability for C3 plants to fix carbon. C4 plants use phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase instead of rubisco, which binds carbon dioxide specifically.

Explanation:

C3 plants use rubisco to fix carbon dioxide; however, oxygen also competes for binding. C4 plants have evolved to use PEP carboxylase, which only binds carbon dioxide, eliminating competition with oxygen. Furthermore, C4 plants separate carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle by location, but C3 plants do not. The light reactions of C3 and C4 plants are very similar, but C4 plants are more suited for arid climates due to their ability to close their stroma for longer periods of time to prevent water loss.

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

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